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Partnering Leadership

Learn from the leadership journey of purpose-driven changemaker CEOs & leadership insights from top global thought leaders and best-selling leadership book authors. Your host Mahan Tavakoli, who Thinkers360 recently named as one of the top 10 global thought leaders on management, has over 25 years of executive leadership experience and serves as a consultant and coach to some of the highest-performing organizations and CEOs. In the conversations, you can learn from the leadership journeys of successful CEOs and the latest in leadership thinking from top global thought leaders. Purpose-driven CEOs, including David Rubenstein, Jean Case, Marty Rodgers, Rosie Allen-Herring, David Gardner, Charito Kruvant, Tien Wong, Diane Hoskins, Dan Simons, Bill Novelli, Hakeem Oluseyi, Irma Becerra, Richard Bynum, Nicole Lynn Lewis, Ernie Jarvis, Tony Pierce, Stephanie Linnartz, Chuck Robb, Alex Orfinger and Linda Rabbitt. Global thought leaders and best-selling leadership book authors, including Ken Blanchard, John Kotter, Charlene Li, Steven M.R. Covey, Ram Charan, David McRaney, Gary Bolles, Aaron Hurst, Natalie Nixon, Greg Satell, Azeem Azhar, Rich Diviney, Maz Jobrani, Whitney Johnson, David Marquet, Ranjay Gulati, Vanessa Bohns, Patrick McGinnis, Jim Detert, Tim Clark and Michele Wucker. Partnering Leadership podcast is available on all podcast platforms and at partneringleadership.com. Follow the Partnering Leadership podcast on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/partnering-leadership Twitter: @PartneringLead Unleash Your Team's Potential: mahantavakoli.com. Follow Mahan Tavakoli on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/mahan Twitter: @mahany Email: mahan@mahantavakoli.com

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Latest Episode

414 The Emotionally Intelligent Team: Building Collaborative Groups that Outperform the Rest with Vanessa Druskat

Most executives still chase superstar hires, assuming great individuals will automatically form great teams. In this Partnering Leadership conversation, Dr. Vanessa Druskat brings research depth and field-tested experience to...

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169 A Quantum Life: An Unlikely Journey from the Streets to the Stars with World Renowned Astrophysicist Dr. Hakeem Oluseyi | Greater Washington DC DMV Changemaker 169 A Quantum Life: An Unlikely Journey from the Streets to the Stars with World Renowned Astrophysicist Dr. Hakeem Oluseyi | Greater Washington DC DMV Changemaker

June 21, 2022

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63 Be Fearless; 5 Principles for a Life of Breakthroughs and Purpose with Jean Case | Greater Washington DC DMV Changemaker 63 Be Fearless; 5 Principles for a Life of Breakthroughs and Purpose with Jean Case | Greater Washington DC DMV Changemaker

June 15, 2021

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208 How Minds Change: the Surprising Science of Belief, Opinion and Persuasion with David McRaney | Partnering Leadership Global Thought Leader 208 How Minds Change: the Surprising Science of Belief, Opinion and Persuasion with David McRaney | Partnering Leadership Global Thought Leader

Nov. 3, 2022

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128 How You Can Prepare for The Acceleration and Lead in The Exponential Age with Azeem Azhar | Partnering Leadership Global Thought Leader 128 How You Can Prepare for The Acceleration and Lead in The Exponential Age with Azeem Azhar | Partnering Leadership Global Thought Leader

Jan. 27, 2022

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134 Simple Truths of Leadership, How to Be a Servant Leader and Build Trust with Ken Blanchard and Randy Conley | Partnering Leadership Global Thought Leader 134 Simple Truths of Leadership, How to Be a Servant Leader and Build Trust with Ken Blanchard and Randy Conley | Partnering Leadership Global Thought Leader

Feb. 17, 2022

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138 Challenging stereotypes through laughter and picking on bullies with Comedian & Actor Maz Jobrani | Partnering Leadership Global Thought Leader 138 Challenging stereotypes through laughter and picking on bullies with Comedian & Actor Maz Jobrani | Partnering Leadership Global Thought Leader

March 3, 2022

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122 You Have More Influence Than You Think and The Science of Influence with Dr. Vanessa Bohns | Partnering Leadership Global Thought Leader 122 You Have More Influence Than You Think and The Science of Influence with Dr. Vanessa Bohns | Partnering Leadership Global Thought Leader

Jan. 6, 2022

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91 Leadership lessons from billionaire philanthropist David Rubenstein | Greater Washington DC DMV Changemaker 91 Leadership lessons from billionaire philanthropist David Rubenstein | Greater Washington DC DMV Changemaker

Sept. 21, 2021

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88 Shores Beyond Shores - from Holocaust to Hope: A Bergen-Belsen Survivor's story of Hope over Adversity with Irene Butter | Partnering Leadership Global Thought Leader 88 Shores Beyond Shores - from Holocaust to Hope: A Bergen-Belsen Survivor's story of Hope over Adversity with Irene Butter | Partnering Leadership Global Thought Leader

Sept. 9, 2021

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167 Love, War and Politics with Chuck Robb, Former Virginia Governor & Senator | Greater Washington DC DMV Changemaker 167 Love, War and Politics with Chuck Robb, Former Virginia Governor & Senator | Greater Washington DC DMV Changemaker

June 14, 2022

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65 Inspiring leadership with Accenture’s Marty Rodgers | Greater Washington DC DMV Changemaker 65 Inspiring leadership with Accenture’s Marty Rodgers | Greater Washington DC DMV Changemaker

June 22, 2021

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168 How Truly Great Leaders Unleash Greatness in Others with Stephen M. R. Covey | Partnering Leadership Global Thought Leader 168 How Truly Great Leaders Unleash Greatness in Others with Stephen M. R. Covey | Partnering Leadership Global Thought Leader

June 16, 2022

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124 Secrets Of Navy SEAL Performance and Attributes as Drivers of Optimal Human Performance with Ex-Navy SEAL Commander Rich Diviney |Partnering Leadership Global Thought Leader 124 Secrets Of Navy SEAL Performance and Attributes as Drivers of Optimal Human Performance with Ex-Navy SEAL Commander Rich Diviney |Partnering Leadership Global Thought Leader

Jan. 13, 2022

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142 How to Disrupt Yourself as a Leader and Build a High Growth Team by Mastering the S Curve of Growth with Whitney Johnson | Partnering Leadership Global Thought Leader 142 How to Disrupt Yourself as a Leader and Build a High Growth Team by Mastering the S Curve of Growth with Whitney Johnson | Partnering Leadership Global Thought Leader

March 17, 2022

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66 Rethinking Competitive Advantage: New Rules for the Digital Age with Ram Charan | Partnering Leadership Global Thought Leader 66 Rethinking Competitive Advantage: New Rules for the Digital Age with Ram Charan | Partnering Leadership Global Thought Leader

June 24, 2021

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257 Thursday Refresh with John Kotter: How to lead your organization through change to achieve hard-to-imagine results in uncertain and volatile times | Partnering Leadership Global Thought Leader 257 Thursday Refresh with John Kotter: How to lead your organization through change to achieve hard-to-imagine results in uncertain and volatile times | Partnering Leadership Global Thought Leader

May 4, 2023

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252 Thursday Refresh with Carolyn Dewar: CEO Excellence: The Six Mindsets That Distinguish the Best Leaders from the Rest | Partnering Leadership Global Thought Leader 252 Thursday Refresh with Carolyn Dewar: CEO Excellence: The Six Mindsets That Distinguish the Best Leaders from the Rest | Partnering Leadership Global Thought Leader

April 6, 2023

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244 Magic Words to Unleash the Power of Effective Leadership and Positive Influence with Best Selling Author and Wharton School Professor Jonah Berger | Partnering Leadership Global Thought Leader 244 Magic Words to Unleash the Power of Effective Leadership and Positive Influence with Best Selling Author and Wharton School Professor Jonah Berger | Partnering Leadership Global Thought Leader

March 9, 2023

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Recent Episodes

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Oct. 14, 2025

414 The Emotionally Intelligent Team: Building Collaborative Groups that Outperform the Rest with Vanessa Druskat

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Oct. 7, 2025

413 A CEO for All Seasons: Carolyn Dewar on What Great Leaders Do Differently—From Bold Beginnings to Graceful Exits

What makes a great CEO today won’t be enough tomorrow. In this episode of Partnering Leadership , Mahan Tavakoli speaks with Carolyn Dewar, McKinsey Senior Partner and coauthor of A CEO for All Seasons —a practical, research-...

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Oct. 2, 2025

412 Thursday Refresh: Kurt Strovink on Mastering Leadership from the Inside Out: Transformative Insights for CEOs

What separates truly exceptional leaders from the rest? According to Kurt Strovink, it’s not just strategy, execution, or decision-making—it’s the ability to lead from within. As a senior partner at McKinsey & Company and a g...

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Sept. 30, 2025

411 Motley Fool Co-Founder David Gardner on Rule Breaker Investing, Long-Term Thinking, and Leadership That Lasts

In this episode of Partnering Leadership , Mahan Tavakoli speaks with David Gardner—legendary investor, co-founder of The Motley Fool, and author of Rule Breaker Investing . Over the past three decades, David has not only bea...

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Sept. 23, 2025

410 Ram Charan on Leading When Uncertainty Is Permanent: Strategy, Execution, and AI as the New Business Model

In this compelling episode of Partnering Leadership , Mahan Tavakoli is joined by one of the most sought-after advisors to Fortune 100 CEOs and boards—Ram Charan. Named “the most influential consultant alive” by Fortune , Cha...

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Sept. 16, 2025

409 From Turn the Ship Around to Rethinking Decisions: David Marquet on Leading with Distance, Not Ego

In this thought-provoking conversation, former nuclear submarine commander and bestselling author David Marquet returns to the Partnering Leadership podcast to discuss the core ideas behind his new book: Distancing: How Great...

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Recent Blog Posts

March 29, 2024

Becoming an Anticipatory Leader: Proactive Problem-Solving

Introduction In our rapidly changing world, organizations are facing unprecedented challenges and uncertainties. Traditional leadership approaches are no longer sufficient to navigate this volatile landscape. To succeed in the face of these relentl…

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March 27, 2024

The Blue Angels' Formula for Success: Humility, Gratitude, and Trust

Introduction In the realm of high-performance teams, the Blue Angels, the U.S. Navy's elite flight demonstration squadron, stand as a shining beacon of excellence. Their breathtaking aerial maneuvers, impeccable teamwork, and unwavering commitmen…

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Reviews

An outstanding new voice

"Mahan Tavakoli has a unique ability to connect with fellow leaders in a deep, transformative way. He makes people open up through an unparalleled level of transparency and humility which empowers and…"

John Venice | Oct. 21, 2020

High-energy, high content.

"Mahan brings a passion and many lessons and stories to his interviews; he prepares well for his interviewees, makes them the stars, but the real story of this podcast is the character, wit, and exper…"

A Motley Fool | Dec. 2, 2020

Always Inspired By Partnering Leadership

"Mahan does a masterful job in getting the best out of his guest. His takes on leadership and authenticity always serve to inform and inspire."

JK-Jukes | Feb. 25, 2021

Adding Value through Unique and Authentic Perspectives

"Mahan is an amazing facilitator of insights as he brings out the best in his guests for the benefit of his audience. His extensive experience and background in business, leadership, and learning only…"

Coach Kon | April 5, 2021

One of my very favorite leadership podcasts!

"When it comes to leadership, Mahan Tavakoli definitely knows his stuff! And when it comes to engaging and informative conversations with a wide range of terrific guests talking about leadership, the …"

Todd Cherches | April 9, 2021

Amazing

"By far one of my favorite podcasts. I learn a lot from each episode. Mahan does a great job with the interviews."

Maddftr | Oct. 27, 2022

One of the best leadership podcasts.

"One of the best leadership podcasts. I enjoy the mix of conversations with CEOs and authors as well as Mahan’s own perspectives."

David L. Bean | March 15, 2023

The Best Partnering Leadership podcast

"Mahan's special sauce is what takes the Partnering Leadership podcast from good to great! With his active listening and ability to extract critical insights, he consistently delivers conversations th…"

Andrew M. Thompson | July 29, 2023

Love it!!!

"Partnering Leadership is an exceptional podcast that brings together the best of leadership insights and captivating storytelling. Mahan's passion and preparation shine through as he skillfully inter…"

James R. Kennedy | July 30, 2023

Great

"Every episode of Partnering Leadership takes you on a journey into a different aspect of leadership. From David Marquet's style of leading to Ram Charan's thoughts on corporate leadership, every chat…"

Hattygf | Aug. 14, 2023

Love this podcast!

"Partnering Leadership brings together timeless leadership lessons and real-world stories. Chats with leadership gurus like Ken Blanchard and John Kotter, alongside episodes featuring AI experts like …"

Harrtygf | Aug. 15, 2023

Thought provoking and nuanced perspectives

"I love this podcast and the variety of guests for the different perspectives and topics but also the nuance that comes with each one. I find myself thinking differently or considering my role as a DE…"

kahpyt | Aug. 29, 2023

Leadership Lessons for the Digital Age and the Age of AI!

"The Partnering Leadership podcast is a true gem. Some of my favorite episodes are the one with Paul Daugherty of Accenture and Ajay Agrawal. Those conversations reshaped how I think about the AI lan…"

Michelle A. Mora | Sept. 8, 2023

A Masterclass in Purpose-Driven Leadership: A Must-Listen Podcast

"Partnering Leadership is a compelling podcast offering deep insights and meaningful conversations. With his vast experience in business and leadership, Mahan brings a wealth of knowledge to every epi…"

Steve D. Apodaca | Sept. 11, 2023

Level Up Your Leadership, Anywhere, Anytime

"Commutes, workouts, meals - whatever you're doing, Partnering Leadership will expand your leadership thinking. Mahan artfully guides insightful conversations that will inspire you to lead with purpos…"

Angel S. Lytle | Oct. 14, 2023

Bite-Sized Learning for Busy Leaders

"Who has time to read stacks of leadership books? With Partnering Leadership, Mahan condenses today's most brilliant leadership insights into bite-sized, highly digestible morsels. You'll finish each …"

Claude K. Stevens | Oct. 16, 2023

The Gold Standard of Leadership Podcasts: Partnering Leadership

"The Partnering Leadership podcast is an absolute gem in the world of leadership podcasts. Mahan's ability to blend conversations with CEOs, authors, and his own perspectives creates a dynamic and eng…"

Paul D. Powell | Dec. 3, 2023

Inspiring Leadership Conversations with Purpose

"Masterful, inspiring, and authentic—these words perfectly describe Mahan's approach to leadership and his podcast, Partnering Leadership. With his remarkable ability to draw out the best from his gue…"

Richard P. McKee | Dec. 12, 2023

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